Eight teams -- four middle schools and four high schools -- have received invitations to compete in the State Science Olympiad in April after strong showings at the recent 24th Regional Science Olympiad at MTSU Saturday (2/23/2019).

Tournament Director Pat Patterson, an MTSU chemistry professor, confirmed the official results in the high school division Tuesday (2/26/2019) following Saturday's competition. The top four finishers included Franklin; Father Ryan of Nashville, Tennessee; Central Magnet in Murfreesboro; and Stewarts Creek in Smyrna, Tennessee.

For the middle school division, the top four finishers included Davidson County Homeschool in Nashville, Tennessee; St. Rose of Lima in Murfreesboro; Dayspring Academy in Greenbrier, Tennessee, and Smyrna.

Science Olympiad competitions are like academic track meets, consisting of a series of 23 team events in each of the three divisions (high school, middle school and elementary), the national organization's website, https://www.soinc.org, says.

More than 400 students competed in the regional tournament. Several middle schools and high schools fielded more than one team.

Highschool events included "Designer Genes," "Disease Detective," "Code Busters" and "Sounds of Music."

Middle school events included "Potions and Poisons," "Dynamic Planet," "Battery and Buggy" and "Meteorology."

The State Science Olympiad will be held Saturday, April 6, at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

The Elementary Science Olympiad will be held in Murfreesboro in April. MTSU will host the 25th annual Regional Science Olympiad in February 2020.

State Farm contributed $3,000 for teams competing in the regional, Patterson said.

MTSU has more than 300 combined undergraduate and graduate programs.